November 20, 2017 Council Meeting Notes: RCMP report, council procedure update, and emergency preparedness funding

Yesterday, I posted about the development permits that were approved at Monday night’s Langley City council meeting. Today’s post will cover the remaining items that were on the agenda.

The Langley RCMP provided their most recent report to council. In the report, the RCMP noted that they now have a “Stalker” patrol radar system which allows officers to catch speeder both in front of, and behind, a police motorcycle.

Langley City’s Bylaw Department and the RCMP are working together to target problem residences in our community. They have been working to resolve issues at three of these properties during this reporting period. The RCMP and our bylaw officers continue to monitor and address homelessness matter, and are working with local agencies that can help people get off the street.

The following pie chart shows the types of files that the RCMP worked on in the second quarter of this year. Most files where around mental health matters, assisting the public, responding to suspicious occurrences, and executing warrants.

RCMP file breakdown by type in the second quarter of 2017. Other CC offences include impaired driving. Select chart to enlarge.

The following map shows crime “hotspots”. The hotspots were focused around commercial area in the second quarter of this year.

Langley City crime map for the second quarter of 2017. Select map to enlarge.

Every municipality is required to have a Council Procedure Bylaw. This bylaw establishes how council and council committees operate. Council voted to move forward with an update to our procedure bylaw on Monday. One of the major changes is to move the inaugural council meeting to the November right after an election, as local government elections have been moved to October. Other changes include updating the notification process for closed council meetings, how motions can be brought forward at council meetings, and some other various housekeeping items.

Council also approved our Fire Chief Rory Thompson to attend the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference, and our CAO Francis Cheung to attend the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators Annual Conference.

Council supported a grant application for $25,000 from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund which is managed by the Union of BC Municipalities. If we are successful in getting the grant, the funding will be used to purchase supplies and equipment to set up group lodging kits. These kits would include shelter tents, cots, blankets, pillows, generators, heaters, and lighting equipment.